Thanks; nice to know in have some good support. I appreciate it! My thanks again to Dark White Wolf for her help and support. I'm eternally grateful!

Also, nice word to the reviewer Paris Super Girls. Ray/Mariah is one of my favourite pairings too, so thanks a lot. It is a bit dark and sad, but I try to uplift it with hope of them trying to escape. They are determined and some nice romance as well. There will be tragic moments but I hope for some nice ones too. I just hope the rating doesn't put people off.

Another word to Lady Paine, thanks for the support and hope you continue to read. I appreciate your words.

Now we will be one to the main story line, but just a little more on details this chapter, but it will also introduce what will be happening in the future, not to mention introducing more characters. Hope ther is no OOCness.

Summary: In the war zone in the battle between Biovolt and BBA revolutionaries, many young bladers are taken captive in prison camps. They are desperate to escape, but can they trust supposed enemies, and let love develop in a place of hatred and deceit? KaixOC and other pairings.

Tormented Souls

Chapter 2: United we Stand

The group of teens held their breath, as a tall masked figure loomed closer, grinning maniacally, clearly pleased to see them all quivering in fear. He wore a long dark trench coat, had purple hair and blood red eyes outlined in the mask her wore over his face. It was exactly the reaction he wanted. He was superior and he made to contempt to make it known to the prisoners. They were dirt, put there to serve the army. Pathetically weak, even if they stuck together. However, he was sure they were hiding something. He would find out, as no on disrespects Bio-volt and gets away with it.

A young officer holding a clipboard, snickering at the grovelling captives closely followed him. He had light purple hair and dark eyes, glinting in the light viciously as he came beside Spencer and Ian. He greeted them as they smirked, raising their voices so the other youths could here.

"So where's Tala? I though he was with you this morning Bryan." Ian inquired, wearing a disgusting smile.

"Oh, he's down in the cells. He's taking care of the bitch locked up down there. It's his job to bring her up later in the afternoon. Hard job, last time when I had to watch her she tried to snap at my head." the boy sniggered in reply.

"You know they should really think about putting the little mongrel in a muzzle, so she couldn't bit people. After they've already got her a chain to wear around her neck, just to show what a dog she is." Spencer hissed, causing the other two to laugh, earning growls from the other bladers lined up. They turned to them with snide looks on their faces.

"What's the matter? You going to defend the bitch, you know it's only a matter of time before they ship her to the city for her acts. Then the soldiers will deal with her..." Bryan mocked.

"In the meantime, why don't we deal with you the same way!" Tyson snarled ready to knock them back if his friends hadn't held him at bay.

"Go on, let him go, I'd like to see what the hothead has got in fighting skills." Ian chuckled.

"At least he can fight instead of hiding behind others runt!" Tammy spat as Bonnie and Jessie restrained her.

"Runt! Why you..." the smaller boy yelled ready to charge, before being blocked by the tall man. Looking back and forth from the two groups, he eased the soldiers.

"Don't take anything they say to heart boys. You should all know better than to take the opinions of these pathetic prisoners seriously. They just have silly notions in mocking their superiors, such as us, do you understand?" he murmured as the threesome stood to attention.

"Yes sir, Commander Boris, sir!" they chorused

"Good, now role call. Stand at attention, all of you!" Boris barked. The teenagers straightened themselves and stood tall, as the gruesome man strutted down the line, glaring at each of them in turn. When he noticed the absence of a couple of bodies, he turned to the Demolition boys.

"We have twenty workers in our care, yet I count only eighteen. What is the status of the missing ones?"

"Well Commander, one of them, serial 5742 is being deported this morning, we should be on-looking for a replacement if ethic slows down. As for 4119, she's still confined to the dungeons, due for release today." Bryan explained, as he checked the notes on the clipboard.

"Ah, of course, our little escape artist," the man smirked, glancing at the row of teens who were getting irritated easily by the words. "Don't worry, your little playmate will be released this afternoon. To bad though, the dungeon floors were never so clean in years." he laughed cruelly as his men joined in.

Finally he ceased, asking for the notes from Bryan. Now it was time to be listed for daily duties. The people you were with and places you worked were changed over everyday. Still, the labour lacked variety none the less. Numbers were called and then the ranks were taken to work until lunch. After that you worked till sunset, giving the prisoners some time to eat, clean as little as they could then go to bed.

"All right, here are the listings for today." Boris called, so everyone paid attention to where and whom he or she was assigned. By the long years the kids had been imprisoned, they knew their serial numbers off by heart.

"Serials 2983, 7165, 4021 and 6570, will be ploughing the fields and collecting water from the stream under Officer Bryan. Line up now." he commanded. Lee, Mariah, Daisy and Ray assembled at the front. Soon the large metal gates creaked open and the burly Russian escorted the out to the other side of the grounds.

"Serials 9217, 8463, 1759 and 6225, will work in the factory on war essentials with Officer Bryan, hurry up!" he repeated, as now Michael, Miriam, Tammy and Max were all moved out with the Russian soldier.

"Serials 4701, 7388, 2069 and 9457 will be with Officer Ian in the backyard base working in the kitchens and motor pool. Move it!" the colonel, shouted. He ushered Johnny, Robert, Rioko and Bonnie were moved out of the gates. This left six of them in the yard.

"Now, we will get a replacement since we are short in numbers, but for now you will simply have to work twice as hard! Serials 3609, 5014, 9258 and 7266 will be down in the mines. I'll take you there but Officer Tala will be overseeing you later on." Boris confirmed sternly to Tyson, Ozuma, Kenny and Zeo. "As for you two, serials, 6740 and 3651, you will be stitching uniforms in the workhouse. 4119 will join you later on, so you will have to pull together until the new recruit arrives."

Only nodding, the boys were directed to the underground area to start finding valuable fuels and precious stones for finances. Meanwhile, Hilary and Jessie had to beginning stabbing their fingers with needles in the workhouse as they sowed new uniforms for the army. The day ahead looked gruelling and tedious, more so for the girl looking out of the dungeon grate sadly.


Her knuckles were close to bleeding as she scrubbed the floor relentlessly. Another worthless day of her existence going by without a care while she was clapped in irons. What a world this was! Completely unfair, she never did anything wrong to deserve the nightmare, along with the other prisoners. This was supposedly the price for fighting for justice and peace, not quite so glorious. They thought they could break her spirit through gruelling persecution, but that was a mistake. Her will was strong, and purpose and hope supported her cause.

The grumbling of a truck outside drew her attention. Another shipment of people being sent in and out of different means of torture, when would it end? What would all the suffering come to? Could this spiral of hatred ever be broken the cycle seeming so inevitable and never ending? It all crashed through her mind, completely undermined by the savage cracking of whips and pitiful screams outside. One voice penetrated her state of numbness.

"Skyla? Hey come on, it's me. Up here."

Staring above her head, the voice came from the high wall grate, leading outside to the shipping area. The engines growled impatiently as many were loaded into the trucks like meaningless cargo. That's what they were in Bio-Volt's eyes. Inanimate objects, completely dehumanised, not fit for the world in their ranks of a superior super race. Struggling to stand with the weight of the chains, she grasped the bars of the grate in order to hold herself up and peer through the spaces of light. She squinted at the brightness. Skyla had been confined so often lately she had barely seen any daylight. It was a welcome annoyance, as the girl twisted her head to see who had shouted on her.

"Over here Sky, just a last word before I go..."

Turning her sapphire eyes towards a pile of crates, she saw a tall skinny form looking down on her. Bound by her wrists behind her back, she seemed scared, ginger hair flared out and brown eyes glistening with tears, magnified behind large glasses.

"Emily! What the...What are you doing in this end of the sector, should you be..."

"Don't kid Sky, you know all to well there's only one reason any prisoner hangs around the shipping docks." she sighed, seemingly in a daze, yet her eyes were glassy, brimming to overflow with tears.

"What?! Why are you being knocked out of the camp? You keep up the work, why are you being shipped?"

"They must have a shortage in the city. I'm heading to St Petersburg, some far out construction of the new weapons factory; they want it finished over the next few months for some huge push against the BBA. They want to try tanks and new artillery bombs..."

"Fucking God," Skyla cursed, "it never bloody ends! Voltaire has to be given points for creativity though, never knew another man who could fins so many ways to kill people!"

"Take it easy. I just had to say...goodbye." Emily eased, as a muscular guard appeared and shoved her forward towards the truck that was about to leave. She managed to turn on final time and mouth to her friend 'Never give up' before the back board was hoisted up and the truck roaring out onto the open dirt roads for St Petersburg.

Skyla contemplated on the thought as she sunk back into the stone floor, chains clanking as they hit the cobbles. The scenario however, did not dim her worries, thoughts or plots, but increased them ten-fold forcing her to strive for more. Smirking to herself, she grovelled once more, returning to the ever-present stains of human blood and entrails, toiling again with the scrub brush and water pail.


Everyone were exhausted as the filed back into the centre compound, weary from the tedious tasks and the day was only half over. The Demolition boys had trudged them all back to the concentration area where they proceeded to the mess hall for lunch, if that's what it could be called.

Filing in, the all lined up with grimy metal trays to be fed. Steam rose in the air from the metal cauldrons, and everyone wrinkled their noses at the overwhelming stench. Funnily enough the substance emitting the odour was what they had to eat.

"Is anyone besides me thinking that this does not look like food whatsoever?" Tammy commented.

"You ain't kidding, then again we've not seen real food in years, so you can't be sure..." Michael muttered, suddenly hearing a clatter from the back. Johnny appeared, as he was shoved out from the back entrance. Being in yard duties, he had obviously 'volunteered' to serve lunch.

"If I hear one snicker out of anyone, you'll all be getting knuckle sandwiches for you meal." Johnny barked, grabbing a ladle to put out portions on the trays. Everyone tried to hold back their laughter, but were failing miserably.

"Man, they didn't let you near the stove did they Johnny? Then again it looks to be what you could cook..." Ozuma sniggered.

"Watch it! I don't cook this stuff it's ready-made. I know I had to lug the stuff of the trucks and into the kitchens. We're all aware it tastes like..."

"Tut tut tut, restrictions on your language, Jonathan." Rioko purred as she came out of the back room too. "Before you say anything, it'll be quicker if two of us work, and Bonnie and Robert are too busy cleaning the pots. That's the only reason I'm working within breathing distance of you."

"Keep that tongue in check punk girl, or I'll take the pleasure of cutting it out of your mouth!" Johnny hissed.

"Could you two simmer down and just dish out the slop already. This stuffs bad enough without having to wait for it to age." Tyson huffed, before being clanked over his head by Hilary with her tray.

"Quit it Tyson, no one is in the mood to hear your stupid jokes today."

"Let's just try to stomach the food, or whatever it is." Max quirked.

"Whatever, the sooner I get away from Lady Royale, the better." Johnny mumbled, as he started spooning what resembled beef stew onto the trays. Rioko however, refused to take the comment sitting down, scooping a hunk of mashed potatoes and turning to him.

"Well, since you're in such a rush Jonathan, maybe you should have your food...to go!" she yelled, tossing the lumpy spud as the smacked into Johnny's face with a squelch. He turned redder than his hair with anger.

"Why you go for nothing punk! That's it, I'll..." he yelled, but was halted when Robert dashed out on hearing the commotion erupt and gripped him. Meanwhile Bonnie attempted to pull a hysterical Rioko to the back of the tent to avoid confrontation. Everyone was about to get involved, before the sound loud rattling chains pierced the air. Immediately they dashed outside, Johnny cleaning his face slightly first. The noise only meant one thing; someone returning from confinement.


"Come on bitch, I don't have all day! I have to get to lunch." the Russian redhead grumbled as he yanked the metal links for the girl to keep up.

Sky had done her time and now was to return to duty. That was the good news. The bad news was that it was Tala who had the pleasure of taking her back to the ranks. Out of all the Demolition Boys, he had to the worst. His blood red hair and icy blue orbs showed him to be cold, angry and vengeful. He seemed to enjoy taunting the captives of misfortune, especially Skyla. He thought it of great amusement in her escape attempts. She didn't listen but trudged along behind him, looking up to see the gates ahead, and many eyes watching her.

"How sweet, your little friends decided to welcome you back." Tala seethed tauntingly.

"At least...I have real friends, who like me for who I am, not because they want to look high and mighty next to me." she retaliated harshly, making him madder.

"Look, I don't have to take this from you. Just know your place, and then things will go a whole lot smoother in your destruction. Do I make myself clear little bitch? You going to be good for your masters?" Tala spat as he undid the metal collar around her neck as the gates opened.

Looking into iceberg eyes for the first time, Skyla summoned all her courage. Taking a deep breath, reaching into her throat, she put forward her answer, but not verbally. Her remark was spitting in the Russians face, sneering up at him with hate and loathing. He growled viciously, wiping the saliva from his cheek. Grabbing he collar, he shoved her through the gates so she stumbled landing on her face in the dirt. After that he strutted away angrily, too infuriated to laugh at her.

Her friends rushed over, helping her to her feet, before towing her off to do as little as they could of her wounds, not to mention give her some nourishment. Even the slop was better than nothing at all, having been starved for three days.


Bio-Volt Regional West Headquarters

Moscow

Dear General Hiwatari,

As per your request, the distribution and labour on the new factory has been multiplied in slave labour and working prisoners from several areas. This will speed up the production, so the new line of weaponry will be ready in the next few months.

Also, I have good news. The head board, have seen your grandson, Officer Kai Hiwatari, as now fit and well, having recovered from the previous battle a few months ago. He had been recovering at Moscow memorial hospital, but now is in top fighting status once more. As you ordered, he has been told of the plans to send him to the head concentration camp near the boarder where yourself, Commander Boris and the lead officers are stationed.

He is due to leave this evening, and should make it to your sector within a week. The roads are cleared and there should be no problems. He will arrive promptly, prepared to take on a new role in the war plots. I'm positive his transfer will enable you to succeed with your ultimate destructive ploys, leading us to victory.

All other operations are going as according to plan.

Yours sincerely,

Officer Kay

Commanding Secretary of Bio-Volt Western Headquarters